4SC Obtains Key Patent for Lead Anti-Cancer Compound Resminostat in Japan
Complete the form below to unlock access to ALL audio articles.
4SC AG has announced that the company has been granted a key patent for its lead anti-cancer compound resminostat in Japan.
The patent (Japanese Patent No. 4856623) covers the composition of matter of resminostat, pharmaceutical compositions comprising resminostat and its therapeutic use in cancer and other therapeutic areas.
The Japanese market is of particularly high importance to 4SC and the development of resminostat for two reasons.
In April 2011, 4SC granted an exclusive license to Yakult Honsha, the Japanese leader in gastro intestinal cancer therapeutics, for the development and commercialization of resminostat in Japan.
Moreover hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, has a particularly high incidence in Japan.
HCC, an indication with high medical need and few therapeutic options available, is one of the cancer indications currently targeted with resminostat in Phase II clinical development.
Besides HCC, resminostat is currently in advanced clinical development also in colorectal cancer (CRC) and Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL), a cancer of the lymphatic system.
Previous pre-clinical and clinical evaluation of the compound up to clinical Phase II trials has shown very good safety and tolerability and promising anti-tumour activity.
Dr. Ulrich Dauer, CEO of 4SC commented: “We are very pleased that the Japanese Patent Authority has granted this key patent for our lead oncology compound resminostat. This is of high strategic relevance both for our alliance with Yakult Honsha in Japan and for the further development strategy with resminostat in this important market. After having already published positive data from our Phase II SAPHIRE study in Hodgkin’s lymphoma, we now look forward to the results of our Phase II SHELTER study with resminostat in HCC.
Currently, we prepare for discussions of the next development steps with regulatory authorities and partners. Considering the high medical need and the limited therapeutic options available in the cancer indications addressed with resminostat, we assume this next step to be a pivotal development programme.”
